Book Description
A newly revised edition of the book that helped define the coaching profession, Co-Active Coaching captures the essence of what it takes to design and maintain successful, collaborative, and empowering coaching relationships.The authors describe in detail their flexible and adaptive model-placing the client's agenda at the heart of the coaching partnership, define the skills required for success, provide dozens of sample coaching conversations, and a power-packed Coach's Toolkit of over 35 exercises, questionnaires, checklists, and forms to make these proven principles and techniques eminently practical and immediately actionable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Coming from a CTI trained coach
Since I have been trained and certified through CTI, I am a bit prejudiced but still have to say that this second edition of the book is just as wonderful as the first but with updated hands-on forms and new perpectives taken I am sure from the numerous classes CTI runs and more insight.

Wonderful, wonderful book.

Great Book
This was a gift for my boss and he LOVED it! It arrived very soon after ordering. Thanks for everything.

A go-to book on coaching.
This is one of the few go-to books for coaches, or those who want to become coaches. Very, very helpful. Lots of ideas, tips, etc. The CD that comes with the book is worth the price alone!

Buy this book and read it! One of my favs on the topic of coaching!

What everyone needs to know
This book opened great ways to honor myself and others. It is well written and expanded my idea about coaching.

the best coaching book
This book is the best and most comprehensive coaching book I have on my shelfs.
Co-active coaching is what my profession is about and I've found so many answers to my questions about how-to and what-is-next .

Captures the wisdom of co-active coaching and it's a must read if you want to tap into the real power of coaching. ... Read more

Book Description
A new edition of the book that took the art of coaching to new heights, this is the definitive guide to mastering the skills needed to help people unlock their potential and maximize their performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Foundations of Business Coaching
This book is an excellent expose of one of the primary sources, and the development of principles and techniques of business coaching from that starting point.He refers frequently to the work of Tim Gallwey and his inner game books.I was familiar with Gallwey's work, and appreciated the excellent organization, content and style of the book.

I found the book also to be of significant value to anyone who wishes to contribute to other people's success, be it in family, social, or other relationships.Parents should find the content valuable in moving from the control stage of parenting to the empowering stage of parenting.

Valuable coaching classic
Whitmore has provided a very good secular overview and guide to coaching in Coaching for Performance (I am a Christian coach). It is easy to read and gives lots of examples of using coaching technique in everyday life and work. It appeals to me as a classic as Whitmore came in at the early days of coaching and writes with clarity and enthusiasm. In this edition outlines its development. I purchased this book as it was often quoted in the Life Caoching couse I studied as part of a theology degree.

As someone with a sporting background I find his many references to sports coaching quite natural, however I can see this as an irritation to anyone who has never experienced coaching in the sporting arena. These references however do add to the readers' understanding of coaching technique and practice. I would recommend this book to anyone new to coaching, but would suggest further study and supervised practice if you want to do more than simply use a few coaching techniques in your worlplace and everyday life.

Good all round resource
I found this book very good as it gives a good general background to coaching as well as an introduction to coaching in the corporate environment.There were some parts that I did not agree with as I felt they contradicted the basic coaching principle of always working in clients agenda, but, that said, it is a good overall resource.

Really Excellent Book for Coaching Introduction
If you are new to the coaching topic, this book helps give you a general understanding to coaching using the GROW model.Very helpful!

great original book on coaching - still work a read!
This book was outstanding when it first came out - and it has truly stood the test of time. Sir John provides a welcome breath of reach air from the often all too frequent US-based and over-hyped coaching genre. Along with Thomas Lenard, Sir John Whitmore is one of the real pioneers of life coaching and workplace coaching. A great book. ... Read more

Book Description
Managing employees in today’s rapidly evolving workplace can sometimes feel like negotiating a minefield. Such recent new trends as flextime, telecommting, 360-degree feedback, the flattening of hierarchies, and the increased use of temps and contract workers present tough new challenges for supervisors in every field. This timely, completely revised and updated edition of Ferdinand Fournies’s classic management coaching "bible" shows you proven ways to get workers to perform at the highest level while eliminating the self-destructive kinds of behaviors that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
In this book, you’ll be taught specific face-to-face interventions you can use to enhance performance in every kind of workplace situation--from sales to creative brainstorming. There are also interventions uniquely suited to resolving problems ranging from low productivity to absenteeism to conflicts between individuals. You’ll learn precisely what to say and do so that each person you supervise will want to give you his or her best work--even when that person was previously thought to be a "problem employee." Packed with brand-new case studies from Fournies’s latest research into the dynamics of the modern workplace, this classic guide takes all the guesswork out of becoming the kind of inspired, "hands-on" manager that every company today is looking for! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Must Have....
As a certified Life Coach and State Farm Agent this book is a MUST HAVE for any leader who wants to understand and improve workplace performance. Buy it already!

Anyone who supervises employees can find wisdom in this book
As a management consultant and trainer, I have been using this book as the basis for leadership development as well as 1:1 coaching with supervisors and managers for about five years. Fournies articulates a philosophical approach and provides practical tools and processes to enhance performance communication and improve working relationships with with employees at all levels, and his book is an easy read for busy professionals. This is one of the most useful and "used" books in my library - I couldn't recommend more highly.

A valuable reference on an important skill
This is an excellent book on coaching.You will read other views here to the contrary, but that is largely due to the many interpretations of the word "coaching."My primary focus is coaching managers and salespeople in a highly demanding, very technical field.There are many useful and effective tools presented in Fournies' work.Not everything will be applicable in every situation, but this book will give you many ideas for respectful, empathic coaching.If you are a "life coach" or a "mentor" you may prefer other techniques, but you'll still find some good advice here.Looking for achievement and opportunities to provide reinforcement can hardly be considered bad advice.Many managers simply don't know how to make the transition from technical expert or great performer to someone responsible for the performance of others.Fournies gives some valuable tips on doing so.

My recommendation is to read several books on coaching, beginning with John Whitmore's 3rd edition of Coaching for Performance.If you coach salespeople, also read Managing Major Sales by Rackham and Ruff.And if you are coaching others, read Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman; coaching others requires, first and foremost, self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy.Goleman's book will raise awareness of the importance of these qualities in business and in life.

Great Handbook for New Managers
I have been a sales manager for 10 years. In that time I have read close to 100 books on management and leadership.this is one of my favorites.It is an easy read, it makes solid points and it provides clear direction on what a manager needs to do to help get the most out of their people.I highly recommend this book.

Best business book EVER
This is a must have for anyone in a supervisory or managerial role.Simple concepts, easy read...with actual dialogues to help you practice the coaching techniques discussed.And best of all, IT WORKS. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart

"With Mary Beth O'Neill's coaching, I've become the kind of leader who balances both the needs to get results and to develop great working relationships.?Since I started working with her, I've won accolades as the Top Innovator for my company, and as Professional of the Year for my industry.?More important, I've been able to scope my job in a way that allows me to learn and contribute at the same time, all the while delivering great results to the bottom line."
—Lynann Bradbury, vice president, Waggener Edstrom ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Brilliant book!
This is the best reference I have read about Executive Coaching - how to manage your own stuff when you coach, the best models to apply and how to create lasting shifts. A must for every coach's bookshelf.

Executive Coachingwith Backbone and Heart
I found several concepts very helpful, especially the Three Key Factors model for executive coaching and the description of the Client Responsibility Model.Mary Beth O'Neill also shares, with examples, how to help a client identify habitual behavioral patterns that might not be effective and a methodology to recognize those patterns and create new, more effective ones. This book is filled with insightful wisdom...a real gem.

Exceptional Coaching Resource
The combination of theory and practice lends well to readers of all levels (from graduate students to seasoned professionals). The author's systems perspective focuses on the executive as part of a greater whole within the organization and the importance of understanding the influences that are impacting his/her behaviors. O'Neill also focuses on the importance of a results orientation (a topic often lost in other coaching books). She discusses the importance of thinking like an executive so that you (as a coach) can produce at a level that executives expect - increasing the likelihood of establishing rapport, a long-term relationship and, most of all, bottom-line results.

WellWritten and Enlightening
This is a well written and thorough resource which aptly combines theory with practical application of the systems theory to executive coaching as well as advice and tools to use.The book is very useful in translating the systems theory to readable and useful frameworks, pragmatic tips and case studies.

The author methodically explains the four phases of coaching process namely contracting, planning, implementation and debriefing.She explains that coaching is a complex process which involves the application of the principles and methods of psychology, leadership principles, business management and organisation development, among others, to assist the executive and the aspiring executive improve their effectiveness.

The book will assist the executive coaching practitioners, business executives and managers who need them and offers a practical guide to developing the effective communications and relationship expertise needed by business managers to run effectively their organisations in the highly competitive operating environment.

Read this book and you will have a comprehensive understanding of this emerging new field.

Excellent Aplication of Systems Theory to Executive Coaching!
I highly recommend this book to new and seasoned coaches. Not only is it enjoyable to read, but the author presents a clear description of the application of systems theory to executive coaching. There are a number of coaching books that describe coaching skills, but O'Neill's book provides a solid theoretical framework for applying these skills.

Sabrina Starling Schleicher, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Executive and Life Coach ... Read more

Book Description
More and more leaders and their organizations are becoming convinced in the business case for creating a "coaching culture". This book provides the tools for leaders and teams to develop a common language and shared protocol and a learning and development orientation towards people. These critical dynamics support the entire culture becoming a "feedback-rich, high-performance" organization.

For this to occur, a common coaching approach driven by coaching UP, DOWN, and SIDEWAYS is necessary. Coaching flows in all directions to managers, peers, and direct reports. Coaching becomes the normal "way we do things around here."

The premise of "The Heart of Coaching" was never more true. "As coaching becomes a predominant cultural practice...it will create a performance-focused, feedback-rich organization capable of creating and sustaining a competitive advantage."

This "Second Edition" makes the use of the enhanced coaching model easier to use than ever, since it now includes a colorized snapout reference card. Additionally, several powerful enhancements of the Transformational Coaching methodology make it one of the most comprehensive, and systematic approaches to coaching you will find today.

It guides leaders, managers, and entire teams who want to enhance or master their coaching skills through 2 critical aspects of coaching: 1. establishing authentic, healthy and respectful coaching relationships, and 2. organizing and conducting the actual coaching conversations that lead to commitments for positive results that both the coach and the coachee are willing to support. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

How to Create Your Own Coaching Culture
As a professional certified coach, I love this book and use it as a resource in the programs I facilitate on leadership development and business coaching.Tom has such BIG HEART and through this book he provides a wonderful road map on how managers and leaders can begin to create more high performance work teams.

Relational Guide to High-Performance
In this three-part relational guide for the development of "a performance-focused, feedback-rich organization", consultant Tom Crane offers the reader his insights on three aspects of transformational coaching; the model, the coach, and the culture. The unifying theme, the heart drives relationships, and relationships drive performance, is evidenced by the title of the book and the statement, "If you chose to incorporate any of the practices described, pay attention to how your relationships are enriched and your results are enhanced."

The 'model' part is a three-phase methodology for coaching; starting with connecting, preparing, and establishing expectations (the Foundation); progressing into exploring and issues identification (the Learning Loop); continuing with options, commitment, and follow-up (Forwarding The Action.) The 'coach' element is an introspective piece including communications and style. The 'culture' part covers both `what it is' and seven principles for creating the change.

From reading the book, it is easy to see that Crane believes in intrinsic motivation and in people. He uses a most wonderful term, "positive regard," for how a coach or leader might look upon those they work with. I could not agree more with this sentiment. If you share this feeling, this is a book worth the read, as it gives wonderful guidance for how to bring out the best in people.

Dennis DeWilde, author of
"The Performance Connection"

Awesomely helpful book on coaching!
This will become one of your go-to books re: the coaching process. I know it's one of mine! Incredible insights as well as lots of advice, tricks, tips, etc. A must buy for coaches, or those who aspire to become coaches.

The Heart of Coaching: Using Transformational Coaching to Create a High-Performance Coaching Culture (3rd Edition)
This book does have some good background information about coaching. It is pretty dry though. If you want to learn about coaching, take an accredited coaching certification program. I did, and this was one of our required reads. It happened to be my least favorite and gave me very little practical information to use during a coaching session. If you want to read an inspiring, empowering book, read Breaking the Rules by Kurt Wright.

A sound and practical coaching method
Tom Crane goes to the true essence of coaching. He developed a comprehensive coaching method to transform knowledge into performance and action into results. A must read not only for coaches, but also for managers and leaders. ... Read more

Book Description
Tools, forms, and practical advice to run your coaching business. From initial client interviews to billing and marketing strategies, this book is one-stop shopping for any coach. Taken from CoachVille.com's extensive library of coaching resources, this invaluable book gives you everything for your coaching practice. Sections include the business of coaching, client intake and follow up, and workshop planning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Coaching Starter Kitby Coachville.com
My goal was to obtain a variety of forms, which could be used or modified for a coaching practice. This book provides this plus a considerable amount of information about the coaching business. This book is a good starting point for anyone considering the coaching business.

A book of lists
I was not impressed with this book.It's a book of lists, and checklists, not a narrative, descriptive guide to how to coach.It has a bunch of forms, which are great if you're just launching your practice, but to really learn the craft, this is not the book to teach that.It's "oversell" to say that it's "everything you need to launch" or even expand your practice.This book disappointed me greatly.

Simple steps to coaching
This book is easy to read and is laid out in easy steps to follow to begin a life coaching practice.

Good way to get started
I asked an experienced coach to review the content to see if it was worth keeping and she agreed. She checked specific chapters I should read, forms to use, etc.

It has provided the start that I need before I meet my first client.

Excellent Resource
This book have almost every form imaginable.It has greatly facilitated the adminstirative end of my pracatice.Highly recommended.I would have liked more concrete how to build your practice information. ... Read more

Book Description
Praise for the first edition:
As interest in coaching grows, I think Flahertys book will come to stand out as a definitive work. Peter M. Senge
Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others proposes rigorous methods of practice and self-observation in a relationship of mutual trust, respect and freedom of expression. It will probe you to rethink and possibly undo how you relate to your clients, your partner, your staff, your friends, and how you produce long-term excellent performance in yourself.
This 2nd edition includes new chapters on working with the body and what to do when we find ourselves stuck in our coaching efforts.These chapters, have been included to expand the coaches repertory and readiness to step into wider areas of engagement with clients.As with the previous edition these chapters have annotated bibliographies at their conclusion that will assist the reader in continuing their study.The appendix also has expanded list of self-observation exercises and practices as well as additional material that can be used in assessment.
This book will act as a learning guide for new coaches and master coaches who want to challenge their methods of partnering with clients.It is also applicable to managers intending to include coaching in their developmental roles with team members.
The author has led workshops in coaching, communication, leadership, and project management for more than 12,000 people. These have included participants from many Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T, FMC, Chrysler, Ernst & Young, Cargill, Levi Strauss and Coopers & Lybrand.

*New edition of a classic in the field of coaching-- 1st edition sold over 27,000 copies

*Presents the fundamentals of coaching and offers practical ways to implement coaching programs in any organization

*Revised and updated including new material on latest approaches, the effect of technology and other developments in the field ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Excellent book!
I bought this book for my girlfriend who is a literacy coach. She then asked me to buy three more so she could give them as presents to other coaches. 'Nuff said!

Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others
The book is extraordinarily concise, clear, comprehensive to deal with the issue of coaching, a concept difficult to explain. It has guidelines for different levels of preparation and competence.Excellent.
In my case, I am an advertising officer, it served the purpose of helping me in communicating at the best of my skills.

Very dry reading
I must say that I was extremely disappointed by this book. Given all of reviews I saw/read before buying the book, I expected a very helpful tome. Instead, this turned out to be one of the driest books I've ever tried to read.

There are much better, and more helpful, books out there on coaching.

Good but hardly definitive
Mr. Flaherty's book reveals the wide and disparate meanings we apply to the word "coaching."My primary focus is in the area of managing and coaching professional technology salespeople.I found this book to be uneven and at times even irritating.Too many references to Heidegger and other philosophers, which struck me as irrelevant appeals to authority with little relevance to coaching.I like a good discussion of philosophy, the nature of being, etcetera, but in this context it seemed out of place.At other times, Flaherty's insights were brilliant.

Despite numerous references intended to persuade us of the foundations for the author's positions, Flaherty includes questionable material in this book which he acknowledges will be controversial.The section on body types is, in my view, ludicrous stereotyping.My field is medical technology, and when I read that "ectomorphs are tall, thin, long-limbed, long-necked folks... people of this body type often have complex and highly wrought nervous systems," I cringed.What is a highly wrought nervous system?Where is the scientific evidence to support this?Basing assumptions on people's "body type" is fraught with danger, not the least of which is being dead wrong.More importantly, what in the world does this have to do with coaching, unless perhaps if you are a fitness coach or physical therapist.It might then have some dubious merit, but Flaherty is suggesting that coaches, generally, consider these "factors."On the other hand, coaching awareness of one's physical body and its signals and responses to internal and external influences certainly has merit.

The author also goes out of his way to demean the views of Ferdinand Fournies, whose book Coaching for Improved Work Performance he apparently views as competition to his own.He dismisses Fournies as a behaviorist and suggests his coaching advice belittles those being coached.Yet Flaherty frequently remarks that you must deal with observable behavior.What's more, he acknowledges that "when someone declines coaching," but you are still responsible for their results, "I recommend that you use traditional management procedures," with "clarity about outcomes and the consequences for not reaching those outcomes."In short, he says you should do what Fournies, much more eloquently and sensitively, advocates.

There is a great deal a reader on the subject might gain from Flaherty's book, but I would not recommend it in isolation.After reading it, I was surprised at the numerous glowing and uncritical reviews it received.Read it WITH Fournies' book - the two are not contradictory.But if you are only going to read one book on coaching, read John Whitmore's 3rd edition of Coaching for Performance, a brilliantly straightforward, unpretentious, and exceedingly pragmatic view of how we can help others realize their potential in most relationships.If by chance you are coaching salespeople, also read Managing Major Sales, by Neil Rackham and Richard Ruff.

Excellent resource for coaches!
I am a family and life coach, focusing mainly on parents and teens. I found Flaherty's book to have many useful and powerful tools that can be used with any client, including parents, kids, youth, teens, and families. Coaching leaves people feeling more competent and helps them learn how to self-correct. Teaching this to children and youth is powerful and can change the direction of their lives. Helping them feel more competent as a result of learning how to self-correct seems to me to be something that would be invaluable to clients both young and old. Children are like sponges and learn very quickly. They can achieve more balance in their own young lives when they are given the tools in which to do so. Parents can learn to be powerful coaches for their children through being coached themselves.

Because coaching is a relationship that is based on mutual respect, trust, and freedom of expression, it serves to support all clients. We have to remember that clients are in the middle of their lives and that includes kids. They may have developed some undesired behaviors and it will take some patience and caring to help walk them through the steps to change. We as coaches can observe and learn when something is not working for both parents and kids, then share with them the steps they can take toward positive change. I think it is extremely powerful for a child or teen to learn that he or she has the ability to make these changes and to determine the outcomes in their lives.

Flaherty teaches the importance of having a strong foundation that can act as an anchor in our coaching experience with our clients. Coaching is a way of working with people that leaves them more competent and fulfilled so that they are more able to contribute in any area of their life. It also helps clients to learn to self-correct. They know when things are going well and can see when things are not. They can learn to change behaviors that will help them in making the adjustments needed to correct it.

What's true is what works. Coaching is about practical outcomes and is a discipline that requires self-correction, freshness, and innovation. Our coaching has to be adapted to fit individuals who already have their own way of doing things. Language, observation, and assessment occur simultaneously. They never occur without the other. The coach must be very precise, consistent, and grounded in listening and speaking to the client. The coach must also have a general sense of the way the client is in and makes sense of the world.

Flaherty said: "The more profoundly and systematically we understand someone, the more effective and lasting our coaching can be."

I will use the tools in Flaherty's book for years to come. I found it to be very clear and concise and his illustrations and charts useful and practical. I will turn to his book whenever I feel it's time for me to re-assess.

... Read more

Book Description
Much is expected of you as a coach. On any given day, you may play the role of educator, physiologist, business executive, and psychologist—and that's before you even step on the field. With Successful Coaching, you'll expand your knowledge of every facet of the coaching profession and emerge a more complete coach. Grounded in the principles of coaching, behavior, teaching, physical training, and management, Successful Coaching provides a unique blend of the latest sport science research and the hands-on experience and best practices of highly experienced coaches. It's an insightful, practical, and relied-on resource that you're sure to find more valuable than your playbook.

With more than 500,000 copies sold since the release of the first edition, Successful Coaching is the best-selling coaching methods book ever published. Produced by the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) and written by ASEP founder Rainer Martens, Successful Coaching serves as the text for ASEP's Coaching Principles course, which, along with the Sport First Aid and Coaching Technical and Tactical Skills courses, make up the curriculum for ASEP's Bronze Level coaching certification program.

Bronze Level courses have been adopted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as part of the NFHS Coaches Education Program, used by 35 state high school associations in certifying high school coaches.

Successful Coaching, Third Edition, was reviewed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) and complies with the NASPE National Standards for Sport Coaches and the NCACE Guidelines for Accreditation of Coaching Education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Premier Coaching Text
This book is THE book for anyone aspiring to coach.If you have the desire to coach but lack the knowledge, buy this book now!It can be a bit dry at times, but so can coaching.The bottom line is that it teaches a lot of things and teaches them well.

One minor quibble is the book's hasty dismissal of command-style coaching.I think Martens is a little harsh in that regard.But, that's a nit-pick.The book is outstanding.

This book is a MUST for all aspiring coaches.
When you coach any particular sport, are you fearful of sending improper messages to your players? Do you feel that your players respect you as a coach? Can you say the right thing to your players to help motivate them toachieve success in the sport they play? Do you need a book to explain howto do all of the above? If so, this is the book to get.

A Must for All New Coaches in any Sport
This is THE best coaching book for beginner to intermediate coaches I haveEVER read.I think so highly of this book that I feel all coaches shouldbe handed a copy as soon as they sign up for a coaching job.This is thebook that basically made me the coach I am today.When I first begancoaching high school hockey, I sought coaching education in all the books Icould find.But for a beginning coach, many of these books fell short withthe simple fact that new coaches need to learn from the bottom up. This book not only remembers to teach you all aspects of coaching you willneed to get started in coaching but hits on a lot of the aspects that youmay not even have considered.This is the first book I read that hits uponthe idea that coaching is more that X's and O's.Many coaching booksfail to realize that organization is the key to successful coaching. Practice and season planning are covered in a way that a new coach canbegin planning their season immediately.Physical conditioningplanning and teaching plans are covered in a way that no matter what thesport is that you are coaching, you can apply the lessons taught.From howto make up your season outline to how to set and reach your team objectivesare covered to the point where you can gain the confidence you need tosucceed.But also covered are things such as how to avoid legalproblems, how to deal with parents and how and when to run meetings withboth parents and players.These are the very details that most hockey orcoaching books seem to leave out.And these are the very things that allnew coaches need to get information on BEFORE they begin.And aftercoaching for four years on the high school level, I have needed ALL of theinformation I gained from this book.I can not recommend this bookenough.EVERY COACH IN EVERY SPORT SHOULD OWN IT. ... Read more

Book Description

Each spring, Tee-ball introduces millions of boys and girls to "America's pastime" --and introduces their parents to the joys (and nightmares) of coaching first-time players. Filled with expert advice and tips on creating order from chaos, Coaching Tee-Ball is the solution to every baffled parent's predicament, offering the new coach a total approach to keeping kids involved, motivated, and having fun.

Customer Reviews (1)

A Good T-Ball Reference
This was one of the books I chose for my inaugural season as a T-ball coach.In my search for reference material I've found that for as many books as there are out there for all manner of sports, books on T-ball are in short supply...good ones anyway.This book runs through coaching T-ball from beginning to end.Not just on the field stuff but pre-season, pre-game, post-game, parent relations, etc.I doubt just one book will contain all the information that a new coach needs but this one comes pretty close.If your a new coach I'm sure you will find alot in this book that will help to prepare you for the upcoming season.The reason for only 4 stars though is that I would like to see the drills and exercise section enlarged (surely the author, who is the co-founder and president of the T-ball USA association, can come up with more drills or ideas for creative learning than what is presented in this book).Overall...probably the best choice for T-ball reference I could recommend at this time. ... Read more

Book Description
Most managers coach employees by giving them feedback and evaluating their performance, right? Wrong. Coaching differs markedly from other managerial functions. With its wealth of tips, worksheets, and self-assessments, this handy guide shows managers how to use coaching—not only to strengthen direct reports’ skills but also to rev up their performance to unprecedented levels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent value, and extremely practical...
Coaching employees is one of those things that is more easily said than done.And it's far too easy to mistake managing with coaching.I found Harvard Business School Press' Pocket Mentor series book Coaching People: Expert Solutions to Everyday Challenges an excellent concise guide forsuccessfully coaching people with optimal results.

Contents: What Is Coaching? How to Know When to Coach; How to Develop Coaching Skills; How to Manage a Coaching Session; How to Customize Your Coaching; Tools for Coaching People; Test Yourself; To Learn More; Sources for Coaching People; Notes

In a mere 69 pages, the writers pack in more useful information than books three and four times the size.Everything is geared towards practicality and immediate application, so the book delivers value from the very first pages.The distinction between what is, and what isn't, coaching is a perfect beginning, and sets the stage for what follows.Coaching is not behavior correction or task assignment.It's a mutual sharing to help someone reach their goals and improve their effectiveness.The coach doesn't have to know all the answers, but they do need to be willing to listen, share, and work with the coachee to make changes and monitor the results.The book also contains a number of practical worksheets and checklists to gauge the effectiveness of both parties.This may take the form of a checklist to assess your listening skills, or an action plan to outline a plan and follow up on the outcomes.

For the price and size, there's no reason this shouldn't be included as part of someone's package of materials when they are promoted to a position of management.And even if you're not officially management, you may still be an informal leader in your sphere of influence.Working on your personal coaching skills will only help to solidify that role and enhance your effectiveness with others.If you've never given any thought to how you can help others achieve their goals, start here... ... Read more

Book Description
Appreciative Coaching describes an approach to coaching that is rooted in Appreciative Inquiry. At its core the Appreciative Coaching method shows individuals how to tap into (or rediscover) their own sense of wonder and excitement about their present life and future possibilities. Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciate Coaching guides clients through four stages—Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny—that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Appreciative Perspectives and Practices
The authors of Appreciative Coaching elegantly integrate theory and practice.They have designed a framework that helps one to understand appreciative inquiry and to weave it into one's coaching practice, by providing the tools to use their design.I have shared this book with colleagues in the current coaching certification program I'm attending, and they have all quickly ordered it and thanked me for the recommendation. Thank you to the authors for their contribution to the coaching field.

Masters class
Easy reading and yet very educational.A must read for managers, supervisors, executives to think outside the box.

Appreciative Coaching: A Must Read
Appreciative Coaching takes the reader on a journey that describes the process through examples from both the coach and participant's perspectives. It provides a rich and thorough description that assists readers in understanding the concepts by giving concrete examples, explaining the research it's based upon, and providing sample questions one might expect in an AI coaching process. It is inspiring and makes you want to immediately find an AI coach to engage in your own discovery, dreaming, designing, and planning your destiny. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning how to transform problems into opportunities.

To ordinary
I my opinion this book is to ordinary. I can recommand to read Cooperrider himself if your want to know something about Appreciative Inquiry.

A must read to better your life as a coach, supervise, and person
I am a huge fan of the appreciative inquiry process. Appreciative Coaching takes you through the step by step process of bringing someone through the processes of identifying their dream and bringing it to reality.They even speak about letting go of the relationship when the process is complete.I can not think of a better book I have read where you end and say I know what the theory and reason is, I know how to do it, and have resources given to start the process.

This is a must read! ... Read more

Book Description
Find satisfaction and financial success with a new career in coaching

Getting Started in Personal and Executive Coaching offers a go-to reference designed to help every mental health professional build, manage, and sustain a thriving coaching practice. Packed with hundreds of proven strategies and techniques, this nuts-and-bolts guide covers all aspects of the coaching business with step-by-step instructions and real-world illustrations that prepare you for every phase of starting your own coaching business.

This single, reliable book offers straightforward advice and tools for running a successful practice, including:

• Seven tools for making a great first impression
• Fifteen strategies for landing ten paying clients
• Seven secrets of highly successful coaches
• Ten marketing mistakes to avoid

Complete with sample business and marketing plans and worksheets for setting rates and managing revenue, Getting Started in Personal and Executive Coaching identifies the fifteen biggest moneymaking markets to target and offers valuable recommendations for financing that get the most impact and mileage from every budget. Quick "Action Steps" for applying ideas and techniques make this book useful right away.

Get started in coaching today!Download Description
This comprehensive, "How To" book offers the tips and tools necessary to build a successful private coaching practice from the ground up, providing sample business and marketing plans, as well as checklists, sidebars, advice on choosing a type of coaching, and information on money management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Excellent Choice!
This is a good place to start if you are new in the coaching and Sales & Marketing arena. Provides good points (based on authors personal experience) regarding do's & dont's.

If your background is Sales & Marketing, this book may seem a little too basic, but otherwise excellent for a starting point.

I recommend this book to read and follow!

Excellent How-To run a coaching business
If you want to get into the details on how to set up and run a coaching business, whether personal or executive coaching, this book tells you how. It walks you through the set up to full running. Highly recommended.

It does not cover how to be a coach. This is the business side of the coaching business.

GOOD BOOK
But before you consider coaching, YOU must ask yourself if your life and career are exactly as you want them to be before you go and work with other people. Remember: most people out there are only settling for second best instead of going to fulfill their true fantasies! ARE YOU ONE OF THEM???? I WAS!

A "Must Have" for coaches in their first years of practice
A terrific combination of comprehensive business planning, sales and marketing frameworks; practical action steps and real data to back up the advice.The book guides you through all the key steps required to succeed in this challenging professional services business.

Everyone starting an executive or life coaching practice should grab this book and read -- and reread -- each one of the book's 356 pages.

Excellent tips on establishing & growing your coaching business
Note that this is NOT a book about how to coach. This is a great resource for someone who is looking for a well structured set of tips on how to establish a new coaching practice. It is also a great reference for experienced coaches to dip into. The networking and marketing sections are particularly useful. Experienced coaches will likely find some new ideas, but may get more value by being reminded of techniques that already knew about but have just forgotten to implement...

The book follows a logical progression for a new coach.

- What type of coaching you should focus on and why (business vs personal coaching)
- Which markets to target
- Planning - financial & marketing
- Networking - first impressions, relationships & referrals
- Finding your first clients
- Marketing tips & mistakes
- Internet marketing
- Traits & techniques of very successful coaches

There's also a section focusing on individuals from a professionally regulated field, such as psychology or counseling, who are considering transitioning to coaching.

I enjoyed the style of the book, which is quite "checklist" oriented. As someone who makes lists for everything, it very was easy for me to digest. More importantly is that it's a book that I continue to pick up and reference as it's so easy to dip into. Nicely laid out.

I also like the mini-interviews with successful coaches (usually just a page or so) providing tips & perspectives from growing their own businesses.

As a nuts and bolts description of how to operate & grow a coaching business, you can't go wrong with this book. Look elsewhere if you need a resource for developing coaching skills & techniques. ... Read more

Book Description
Coaching young players, developing their skills, andcultivating a love for the sport may be the most rewarding experiencebaseball can offer. Cal and Bill Ripken understand this like fewothers.

From their father, Cal Sr., a legend in the Baltimore Orioles organizationfor 37 years, they learned to play the game the right way. Those lessons,paired with their combined 33 years of big league experience, helpeddevelop the Ripken Way, a method of teaching the game through simpleinstruction, solid explanations, encouragement, and a positive atmosphere.In Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way, Cal and Bill share thisapproach to coaching and development.

Whether you're teaching your children at home, managing the local travelteam, or working with high school-level players, Coaching Youth Baseballthe Ripken Way will help you make a difference both on and off thefield, with these features:

• More than 50 drills covering defense, hitting, pitching, andbaserunning
• Age-specific practice plans for players ranging from 4 to 15+
• Strategies for setting goals and reasonable expectations for yourplayers and team
• Advice on communicating with parents, players, and staff
• Methods for creating a positive and fun environment in which kids canlearn the skills and strategies of the game

Bill Ripken was once voted by his peers as one of the big league playersmost likely to become a manager. Cal Ripken, Jr., known as baseball's IronMan, is a member of the game's All-Century Team and a future Hall of Famer.Together, they are proof positive that the Ripken Way is the right way toteach the game of baseball. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fundamentally Sound coaching book
Very well written book on coaching baseball for all ages. I read this book to get more informed on how to coach 5-6 year old T-Ball. This book provided a very good framework for this age group. Many well timed photographs used to describe practice drills.

Table of contents

Part 1
1 Responsibilities of Coaching
2 Realities of Coaching
3 Reasonable Expectations
4 Baseball Practice Basics

Part 2
5 Hitting and Baserunning Drills
6 Throwing and Pitching Drills
7 Fielding drills

Part 3
Practice Planner
8 Practice Particulars for Ages 4 to 6
9 Practice Particulars for Ages 7 to 9
10 Practice Particulars for Ages 10 to 12
11 Practice particulars for Ages 13 to 14
12 Practice Particulars for Ages 15+

Favorite parts of the book:

Page 6
As coaches, we need to be able to cater to the needs of the kid who can't catch one ball and still make baseball fun and exciting for the kid who can. It's a difficult balance but one that's important to understand at all levels.



... Read more

Book Description
The must-have resource for coaches who shepherd and care for small group leaders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Practical Handbook
The essential relationship ofsmall group coaches as those who embrace, develop and nurturechurch leaders "over time" rings true in "Coaching Life Changing Small Group Leaders". With relationship building as the foremost attribute of coaches and small group leaders, authors Donahue and Bowman accentuate authentic interaction as the first step to intentionally shepherd leaders.
The authors attest that leaders want to be "fed" by their coaches, to be cared for, loved, to establish a mutual trust and open communication . Coaches are advised to listen deeply to their small group leaders, actively engage in their story, ask for clarification, keep the focus on the leaders and fight the temptation to move too quickly to solutions. In fact, Donahue and Bowman also indicate that coaches should not intervene with small group leaders, or sit in on their meetings, until a meaningful relationship is established with each leader."As trust develops, coaches are enabled to help leaders gain an accurate picture of their gifts and abilities."
In an easy to follow workbook format, the authors take the reader through the various coaching elements; to be visionary, to guide and encourage, to be personal, developmental and supportive, and to effectively bring out the best in the leaders. In essence, coaches have a heart for leaders, with an avid responsibility to equip them in key skills to becomeeffective in meeting the needs of group members.Donahue and Bowman also advocate that the coach and small group leader "dream together" about the effect on group members, the church as a whole and the community.
Specific key equipping skills include modeling and envisioning. Through modeling, coaches and leaders share what God is doing in their lives. They learn together how to live and lead by the Spirit. Healthy spiritual fitness entails prayer, worship, solitude and reading and listening to the Word.Envisioning involves space for the leaders to think or dream about their group. Donahue and Bowman advise coaches to work with their leaders to create a clear and compelling vision that captures their heart and motivates them to action.The authors assess that when the small group vision is clear and compelling, the "best thinking and energy come into play."
The authors also caution that churches can interfere in the relationship, modeling and envisioning stages of coaches and small group leaders when they insist that coaches serve as a "conduit" for the overall church vision."If that happens, the vision will not capture their (the group's) heart, and there will be little connection to the day-to-day activities of small group leaders." Instead, Bowman and Donahue suggest that coaches assist leaders in keeping their vision alive, to empower and to eventually enthusiastically "own the dream".
Overall, the church vision must have broad enough tenets to allow small groups to function earnestly and effectively within the church and its surrounding community.
Life changes in small group leaders often occur when the interaction with their coaches has become deeper, yet retains a delicate balance of continued shepherding and equipping by the coach on behalf of the leader.
I would recommend this practical handbook for those who lead and guide small group leaders.

Good but potentially Overwhelming
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.The insights are great and helpful to anyone who may be coaching or thinking about coaching small group leaders.There are specific guidelines and tips that will help coaches be more effective in their ministry.

The one negative that I see to what Donahue and Bowman have written is that there is too much here.The average coach working a full-time job will not be able to fulfill all of the expectations in this book, even at the 1:5 ratio that the authors recommend.

With that said, every small group coach that is looking for help in understanding what their job is and how to do it should read this book.Just don't expect to do everything that the book recommends

small groups coaching - crucial piece in sustainability
One could choose to 'learn by doing'. Very tiring and stressful. Coaching small group leaders is, not surprisingly, as essential to success as coaching any athletic team. No coach? Enjoy the chaos. There will be blood on the field very soon. It's self-destructive to avoid this resource if a church is hoping to employ small groups. It is as good as the 'Leading Small Groups' book reviewed close by. Forms to use, goals toward which to strive, step-by-step pathways to follow, meeting agendas to fill in... what will you address with your leaders? What are the goals specific to each leader? How does the leader monitor the life of his or her group? What are the personal goals of the leader for 5G development (Growth, Gifts, Good stewardship...)? What are your goals as Coach? Where do you even find a list of possible goals? This is organized, educationally sound, Biblical, realistic. Thank you, Willow.

Excellent Leadership Resource!
I've read a "bunch" of leadership books during my 30 years as an Associate Pastor-Education in churches ranging from 300 to 3,000 in weekend attendance.

I would rate the workbook,Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders, in the top 10%.

It's an "easy read" with many practical ideas for not only coaching small group leaders, but for coaching people in both church and secular settings.

Try it! You'll like it! (and you leaders will be glad!) ... Read more

Book Description
Are you frustrated with trying to grow and market your coaching practice? Do you feel like there is too much information (or too little) on how to market your practice, yet not enough direction on where to begin? Would you like quick answers and a complete resource guide in one place that makes marketing easy to apply and understand?

This book will show you how to build and market a profitable coaching practice in four easy steps. It walks you through the process of deciding who to coach and how to create a program that potential clients will pay you lots of money for. You will understand the components of creating a winning marketing strategy and learn tips and techniques to implement your plan. You will also discover how to become masterful at both marketing and selling.

“Four Steps To Building A Profitable Coaching Practice is a clear and concise guide to niche-marketing for coaches.” Talane Miedaner, best-selling author of Coach Yourself To Success

"A great book with a lot of valuable information from a master at doing what she does best.” Sandy Vilas, Master Certified Coach and CEO CoachInc.com

“This is a great book. Thorough, professional, and easy to read.” Judy Feld, Master Certified Coach and President International Coach Federation (ICF) 2003

Customer Reviews (9)

Powerful advice with depth - for those who mean business!
I have looked through this book, and have read the first part. The coaching exercises I have encountered so far are very thought provoking. You have to work out a lot of things as you go in this book. It is only a quick read if you skip all the work. It is almost like actually working with a coach because of how interactive it is. I am going gradually as I figure out my plan. I can't do some of the exercises yet because I don't know all the answers at this point. It really helps you develop an overall business plan, and the results of that are that you know exactly why you are making all the choices you make in establishing your practice.

Excellent Publication!
It is a very easy guide to read. As a Coach and experienced Sales Professional, it provides practical and effective excercises to follow.

I recommend this book for new and experienced Coaches.

Solid information
I have not completed the book yet, but from the 1/3 of it I"ve read, it is the kind of beginners book I was looking for.It is very basic.There have been some editing weaknesses I have noticed but that is more a function of the publisher than the author.

Oh my gosh! A great book that eloquently lays out how to prepare a stellar business plan for your coaching business.

I love this book. It is written by a coach for someone who wants to create their own coaching business or improve their business plan for their existing coaching business. I just finished this book a few minutes ago, and I still can't believe what a wonderful book it is. I'm a SCORE counselor, one type of business coach, and I regularly counsel wanta-be entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to prepare business plans or modify existing plans. If a client came to me and wanted to start a coaching practice, then I would be giving the client the ISBN for this book right up front.

The author has her own successful coaching business. And this book includes her story about building her coaching business. She tells us what didn't work for her and what has worked for her. She gives us all kinds of insight into what to think about and do when starting your own coaching business.

Interestingly, she has a program she sells through her coaching business that goes something like this:

1. Describe what you want
2. Explore your options
3. Create your game plan
4. Implement your plan
5. Reach your goal

This program she sells is generic. It is the same program I use when I counsel people at SCORE as to how to start a business. I have my clients: (1) Describe the business they want to create, (2) Do market research, (3) Prepare their 25-35 page business plan, (4) Implement their plan, and (5) Meet their revenue targets timely.

This book tells the reader to do the above five things to start and run a coaching business. And then there is the wonderful list of resources at the end of the book on marketing, Web sites, newsletters, articles, ebooks, public speaking, networking, etc.

About the only thing missing seemed to be a discussion on Choice of Legal Entity. Should the coach form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a C Corporation?

If you run a coaching business or want to start one, then I highly recommend this book to you to help you in your work. I also think you will benefit greatly by reading the two following books as supplements to this book: Plug Your Book! (ISBN: 0977240614), by Steve Weber, and Aiming at Amazon (ISBN: 093849743X), by Aaron Shepard. 5 stars!

Complete Marketing Resource for Coaches
*****
This book, though short, is succinct and very useful, very rich in content---a great guide for coaches who are wanting to begin marketing their practices. Marketing information is hard to organize, because as a coach, you really just want to know what you need to know to make your practice successful, and not a lot more than that. If you agree with me, this is the book for you.

There are lots of resources for coaches who want to delve deeper into any particular type of marketing---for example, running teleclasses---but enough basic information so that you can get started, along with time estimates, cost estimates, and estimates as to how long you would have to do any particular activity before it becomes profitable.

I really appreciated the Resource section in the back of the book covering Internet sites for sources from everything from headsets for the telephone, to e-book resources, to credit card merchants and alternatives like PayPal, etc. The Resource section is for the most part specific just to coaching, and the more general resources are useful, too, unlike some appendices.

There are assignments throughout the book for those people who enjoy exercises to assist you in actually DOING the things you need to do to market your practice. The assignments seemed good, but am using the book as a sourcebook to help me to brainstorm, so I just read over them for ideas. I cannot imagine anyone going through and doing these exercises, though, and by the end of the book NOT having a thriving practice.

This is definitely the best book I have ever read on marketing for coaches! I can't imagine how it could have been written any better or how it could have been any more helpful unless the author did the marketing FOR me :)
*****

... Read more

Book Description
The Football Coaching Bible features many of the game's most successful coaches. Each shares the special insight, advice, and strategies they've used to field championship-winning teams season after season.

The 27 chapter contributing coaches span six decades of the sport and reach into every corner of the United States. The impressive list of contributors:

Joe Paterno

Bobby Bowden

Tom Osborne

Hayden Fry

Jim Young

Sonny Lubick

Phil Fulmer

Jerry Sandusky

Mike Bellotti

Dick Foster

Frosty Westering

Barry Alvarez

Grant Teaff

Mack Brown

Fisher DeBerry

Gene Stallings

Larry Kehres

George Curry

Jim Tressel

Bill Snyder

Bo Schembechler

R.C. Slocum

Lou Holtz

Joe Tiller

LaVell Edwards

Ken Sparks

Frank Beamer

They cover every aspect of the game: coaching principles, program building, player motivation, practice sessions, individual skills, team tactics, offensive and defensive play-calling, and performance evaluation.

Developed by the American Football Coaches Association, this coaching guide establishes a new standard of excellence in the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent Read for the Beginning or Experienced Coach
The Football Coaching Bible brings together a collection of articles and speeches by successful coaches from all levels. Whether you are looking for guidance on how to teach leadership, how to build (or re-build) a program from the ground up, or some talk on X's and O's, this book has it covered. Bill Snyder's chapter is particularly great, and has helped me to apply focus to my life in areas other than coaching. His story at K State is amazing.

This book does help a bit with basic nomenclature for brand new coaches. However it mostly assumes a basic understanding of certain things. The beginning coach may have to do some digging to find out exactly what some of the terms mean.

fb coaching bible
Some good info in this book, however each chapter is written from one coach's perspective (passing game, rush "D", etc....) I would have liked more info on each area of the game rather than a detailed perspective of one.

If you love football...
I am looking in to coaching for fun and this is a great book to have.There is a lot of coaching information and great football information in general.

Super Book
I really enjoyed this book quite a bit. My boy finished football season a while ago and I decided to get more involved for this upcoming season by coaching. The details and strageties were solid and very applicable. For someone like me that had an athletic backgroud but no coaching experience, I found the information quite useful.

I would call this a "cookbook" for new coaches. Something anyone can follow.

I would recommend this.

Great book to get started!
I just finished my first year of coaching high school football and I wanted to read as much as I could before next season started.I found the bible.This book has everything you need if you want to be a coach at any level.Personally it was a great starting point to building my own philosophy on coaching and really made me look at all that goes into being called "coach".I recommend this book to anyone, whether it's your first or thirtieth year on the job, that wants to hear from the greats about the game.A fantastic read! ... Read more

Book Description
Coach Girls for Success on and off the Field
Coaching girls' softball can be a wonderful experience. Witness the intensity of a batter connecting with a ball, a runner digging for home, or a fielder making a great catch, and you can't help but be inspired. The effort, pride, and enjoyment on players' faces are great rewards for parents and the sign of a good coach—the type of coach you want to be. So how can you get there?
Perfect for coaches of girls up to age 13, Coaching Girls' Softball includes everything you need to be an outstanding coach and mentor to your team. Whether you are a